On Thursday, August 27, 2015, Concerned Citizens of Frackfree Mahoning Valley Will Hold a Public Townhall – Style Meeting in Youngstown, Ohio, Titled “A Community Discussion: Injection Wells, Fracking Waste, Man-made Earthquakes, and Other Fracking-Related Infrastructure: What Can People do to Protect Their Neighborhoods, Drinking Water, Air, and Their Family’s and the Public’s Health, Safety, and Well-being?"Youngstown, Ohio, August 25, 2015 – In a shocking turn of events, new fracking waste injection well drilling has started in Vienna, Ohio near a family’s home despite high-profile, public opposition and concern for public health, safety, and welfare of the entire region. In addition, gas flaring has begun near a Pulaski Township resident’s home. What can concerned citizens do to safeguard their families and their communities when unwanted, risky or dangerous, heavy industrial operations are permitted by the state in their neighborhoods or near their schools, parks, and homes? Prompted by this and other recent news regarding earthquakes, fracking waste, and injection wells, Frackfree Mahoning Valley, a group of local concerned citizens, will hold a townhall-style open public meeting on Thursday, August 27, 2015 at 7 PM to 9 PM, at The First Unitarian Universalist Church of Youngstown, located at 1105 Elm St., Youngstown, Ohio. (Elm & Illinois.) The meeting is free and open to the public.Geologist Raymond Beiersdorfer, Ph.D., Professor of Geology at Youngstown State University, will give an update regarding injection wells and man-made earthquakes or induced seismicity. Copies of a recently received public records request and other important documents relevant to local injection wells and other infrastructure will be available for media and for discussion. The townhall is titled, “A Community Discussion: Injection wells, Fracking Waste, Man-made Earthquakes, and Other #Fracking-Related Infrastructure: What Can People do to Protect Their Neighborhoods, Drinking Water, Air, and Their Family’s and the Public’s Health, Safety, and Well-being?” Starting at 7 PM, there will be a 14-minute video about injection wells. Dr. Raymond Beiersdorfer will then speak. The remaining time will be for questions and answers and general discussion. It will be an opportunity for attendees to voice their concerns and share information and possible solutions and ideas with members of their communities. For media inquiries or more information, e-mail: frackfreemahoning@gmail.com or call: 234-201-0402www.frackfreemahoning.blogspot.com Please subscribe to receive free email listserv updates at: Frackfree America National Coalition / http://www.frackfreeamerica.org/subscribe.html

A Youngstown State University professor has scheduled a fall speaker series on environmental concerns of hydraulic fracturing entitled "Fall Semester Speaker Series on Energy and the Environment.". Dr. Ray Beiersdorfer, geology and environmental sciences professor at YSU, will kick off the series at 7 p.m. Wednesday September 3, 2014 with a talk about local earthquakes related to hydraulic fracturing. He will discuss the recent earthquake near the Niles, Ohio injection well, as well as information he has obtained about the earthquakes last March near a Poland, Ohio gas well.

Organized by Beiersdorfer, Professor of Geological and Environmental Sciences, the emphasis will be on Scientific, Public Health and Policy Research surrounding shale gas development and renewable energy. The majority of the lectures will be via video conferencing technology but there will be three live lectures. “This series is an outgrowth of the successful video lectures I organized last spring by Dr. Tony Ingraffea of Cornell and Dr. Mark Jacobson of Stanford,” says Dr. Beiersdorfer. “The talks will focus on peer-reviewed research, the only real exception to that will be when Thomas Linzey, the founder of the Community Environmental Legal Defense Fund speaks about the community rights movement.” “This will be an exciting lecture,” he adds, “the whole community rights versus corporate rights issue is what Ralph Nader refers to in his left-right coalition.” “There is a narrative to the series, so I hope people will be able to attend the whole thing. The September Speakers will be looking at scientific and public health research related to shale gas. The focus for October will be on policy, with two political scientists and two attorneys speaking. In November we move to renewable energy with solar and wind. YSU has a solar electricity expert on the faculty in Chemistry, Dr. Clovis Linkous. I’m excited to hear what he has to say.” Ohio is well represented in the lectures as we have faculty from Ohio State, Cincinnati, Youngstown State and Bowling Green speaking. “I’m sure many students will attend the lectures and I hope members of the community will plan on attending.” “It’s free and open to the public. With a 7 p.m. start time there should be ample free-parking at the on-street metered-parking spaces along Lincoln Ave and adjacent streets.” The speaker series will start with YSU Professor of Geology Dr. Ray Beiersdorfer sharing information about the recent earthquake 300 feet away from the Niles/Weathersfield injection wells. In addition, he will share information he obtained through a Public Records request about the swarm of earthquakes that occurred in Poland Township in March of this year related to fracking underneath the Carbon-Limestone Landfill. All talks will be held in Moser 2000 on the YSU campus at 7 p.m. They are free and open to the public.FULL SCHEDULE and DETAILS HERE: http://www.ysunews.com/10836/ For more information, contact Beiersdorfer at ray@cc.ysu.edu.

Frackfree Mahoning Valley News Releasewww.frackfreemahoning.blogspot.com_______________________________________________________For Immediate Release: April 22, 2014______________________________________________________ A PRESS CONFERENCE WILL BE HELD BY FRACKFREE MAHONING VALLEY IN YOUNGSTOWN, OHIO, ON WEDNESDAY, APRIL 23, 2014, AT 1:00 PM, ON THE SIDEWALK OUTSIDE OF CITY HALL, 26 S. PHELPS ST., YOUNGSTOWN, OHIO.CORRECTING THE OHIO DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES’ FALSE REASSURANCES ABOUT EARTHQUAKES, AND MORE: GEOLOGY PROFESSOR, DR. RAY BEIERSDORFER, WILL GIVE UPDATED SCIENTIFIC INFORMATION ABOUT THE TWELVE EARTHQUAKES THAT OCCURRED ON MARCH 10 and 11, 2014, NEAR A HORIZONTAL FRACKING OPERATION IN POLAND, OHIO, AND AN IMPORTANT NEW ISSUE DEVELOPING IN YOUNGSTOWN WILL BE DISCUSSED.ALL MEDIA ARE INVITED. Youngstown, Ohio, April 22, 2014 – Concerned citizens of Frackfree Mahoning Valley will hold a press conference to address the latest information, implications, and concerns regarding important issues for our community including a new issue that is currently taking place in Youngstown, Ohio. Copies of documents and other information will be provided for media. The press conference will be held in Youngstown, Ohio, on Wednesday, April 23, 2014, at 1:00 PM, on the public sidewalk outside of City Hall, 26 S. Phelps St., Youngstown, Ohio, 44503. Concerned citizens of Frackfree Mahoning Valley will attend to answer media questions and to present a new important issue that is developing in Youngstown, Ohio. They will also present concerns related to what they say are false reassurances being given by the Ohio Department of Natural Resources regarding earthquakes and other topics. Geologist Ray Beiersdorfer, Ph.D., Professor of Geology at Youngstown State University, will answer questions and provide the latest scientific information that he has gathered about twelve earthquakes in Poland, Ohio that took place near a horizontal fracking well operation. Dr. Beiersdorfer and Susie Beiersdorfer, of Frackfree Mahoning Valley, will read brief statements and address any media questions. All media are invited to attend. For media inquiries or more information, please contact Frackfree Mahoning Valley at: 234-201-0402 or e-mail: frackfreemahoning@gmail.com

Frackfree Mahoning Valley News Releasewww.frackfreemahoning.blogspot.com _______________________________________________________ For Immediate Release: March 17, 2014 Contact: Jane Spies: Phone: 330-619-0730 or 234-201-0402 or frackfreemahoning@gmail.com Susie Beiersdorfer: Phone: 234-201-0402 or 330-881-1050 or E-mail: frackfreemahoning@gmail.com ______________________________________________________ SUMMARY: MARCH 17 IS THE THIRD ANNIVERSARY OF THE FIRST 2011 EARTHQUAKES WIDELY REPORTED IN YOUNGSTOWN. FRACKFREE MAHONING VALLEY (FFM), A GROUP OF CONCERNED CITIZENS, RELEASES A STATEMENT REGARDING TWELVE, NEW, MARCH, 2014, YOUNGSTOWN – AREA EARTHQUAKES THAT OCCURRED NEAR A HORIZONTAL FRACKING OPERATION. FRACKFREE MAHONING VALLEY CALLS FOR THE OHIO DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES (ODNR) TO IMMEDIATELY RELEASE ALL RECORDS AND DATA TO INDEPENDENT SCIENTISTS AND TO THE PUBLIC TO HELP DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE 12 EARTHQUAKES AND TO ENSURE THAT THE HEALTH, SAFETY, AND WELL-BEING OF THE PUBLIC IS PROTECTED Youngstown, Ohio, March 17, 2014 – A Frackfree Mahoning Valley (FFM) statement dated March 17, 2014 regarding the March, 2014, Youngstown-area earthquakes follows: Frackfree Mahoning Valley (FFM) says that Ohio must have an independent, scientific investigation of the cause of twelve, March, 2014 Youngstown – area earthquakes that occurred near a horizontal fracking operation. FFM says that this investigation must take place in order to ensure that the community’s public health, safety, and well-being are protected. Frackfree Mahoning Valley says that the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) should not be solely in charge of the investigation based upon their track record in handling the 2011 series of injection well-related earthquakes that led to the now-famous 4.0 magnitude earthquake of December 31, 2011, that was reported as felt in Youngstown, several surrounding states, and as far away as Canada. ODNR should immediately release and publicly share all pertinent data, which is related to the new earthquake activity in Poland Township, Mahoning County, with independent scientists who are also studying, or want to study, these 2014 earthquakes. The data should also be immediately shared with the public to ensure transparency and accountability. Publicly releasing this data will also enable members of the public with expertise in this area to come forward with helpful information. Based upon ODNR’s track record in handling the 2011 earthquake swarm that led to the now-famous 4.0 magnitude earthquake and other failures and lack of transparency by ODNR, we do not have confidence that ODNR can conduct a competent study of the March, 2014 Poland Township earthquakes in an impartial and transparent way that ensures that the best interest of the public will be the first priority. We believe that the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) mishandled the first series of Youngstown-area induced seismic activity in 2011, which we now know, due to a later scientific study, that it was a series of 109 earthquakes, not just the 12 or so largest quakes that we were aware of at that time. The 4.0 magnitude Youngstown earthquake, which scientists have linked to fracking waste injection, occurred on December 31, 2011. ODNR was not proactive in handling the earthquakes of 2011. ODNR initially denied the connection between the multiple Youngstown-area earthquakes and deep fracking waste injection at the Northstar 1 well even as late as November 7, 2011, when state ODNR geologist Tom Tomastik told a media outlet that “there is no link between earthquakes and injection well”, according to a Vindicator Time Line cited below. The state geologist said this despite the fact that earthquakes had started on March 17, 2011. Also from the same Vindicator article, referring to the date of November 15, 2011, “Until this point, no substantial evidence-gathering took place … .” Astonishingly, ODNR permitted increased pressure at the injection well despite the fact that several earthquakes had already occurred. For more details please see the time line of events at the following url: “Earthquake Time line,” Vindicator, March 16, 2012:http://www.vindy.com/news/2012/mar/16/earthquake-time-line/ We cannot afford to risk a replay of how ODNR handled the previous series of 109 earthquakes in 2011. There is too much at stake for our community. We do not trust that ODNR can carry out a proper study in a transparent way that allows adequate public, media, and scientific scrutiny. There are already signs that ODNR is not being open or transparent with the public as evidenced by the following quote from a Columbus Dispatch article of March 16, 2014: “Questions about the area’s geology and drilling went unanswered last week by ODNR officials and several state geologists, who said they were told not to comment.” The previous quote is from “Scientists study Ohio’s quakes, fracking,” The Columbus Dispatch, March 16, 2014, by Will Drabold: http://www.dispatch.com/content/stories/local/2014/03/16/scientists-study-quakes-fracking.html This begs the question: Who is telling state geologists not to comment and why? Furthermore, how can a state agency properly regulate an industry from which it receives money? Isn’t that a conflict of interest? One example of this is that the state of Ohio makes money from the deep injection of in-state and out-of-state fracking waste, according to the following NBC4i.com report of May 23, 2012. A quote from that report follows: "Ohio charges in-state drillers 5 cents a barrel, and out-of-state drillers 20 cents a barrel to dispose of drilling waste in Ohio." “NBC4 Investigates: What’s In The Drilling Waste Water Traveling Into Ohio?” May 23, 2012 at:http://www2.nbc4i.com/news/2012/may/23/nbc4-investigates-whats-drilling-waste-water-trave-ar-1047008/ We believe that there are already reasons to be concerned about ODNR’s lack of transparency and inability to conduct a proper investigation of the current earthquake situation. For example, as reported in the Columbus Dispatch (3/13/14), the necessary equipment to collect seismic data relevant to earthquake depth that would help to determine the precise cause of the recent earthquakes had not yet been deployed by the state. Why the apparent delay? If not yet deployed, when does the state plan to gather the necessary data, or are they planning on trying to collect the data? See: “Stakes high in mystery over fracking, quakes,” by Will Drabold, The Columbus Dispatch, March 13, 2014 at:http://www.dispatch.com/content/stories/local/2014/03/13/stakes-high-in-quakes-mystery.html Although it seemed that ODNR had ordered all operations to halt, now we learn that, according to a Columbus Dispatch article dated March 14, 2014, ODNR spokesman Mark Bruce said: “Hilcorp Energy Co.’s one producing fracking well at the Republic Services Carbon Limestone Landfill remains in operation.” (Columbus Dispatch, 3/14/14) These gaps in information do not inspire confidence in ODNR’s handing of this situation. If ODNR is not being upfront and truthful with the public, or if they are not providing all relevant information, how are independent scientists and the community going to be able to figure out what is really going on with the earthquakes? The above quote is from: “Mahoning County well continues to extract oil, gas despite concerns,” by Will Drabold, The Columbus Dispatch, March 14, 2014 at:http://www.dispatch.com/content/stories/local/2014/03/14/Mahoning-County-fracking-operation-continues-despite-earthquake-concern.html This earthquake situation is not about politics. It is about allowing independent scientists to learn what is causing the earthquakes and to do their work without unnecessary obstacles. It is about the public as stakeholders in what happens as a result of the investigation. It is about a community of people and families seeking to preserve our chosen way of life. It is our quality of life, the democratic process and the public health, safety, and well-being that are at stake here. Therefore, the public and independent scientists need to have immediate access to all of the records, logs, and data that ODNR has. Also concerning is that ODNR tried to rule out injection well operations in relation to the new earthquake activity saying that the closest active injection well is 14 miles away from the Poland Township fracking operation, according to the Columbus Dispatch (3/13/14). Yet, according to the same Columbus Dispatch article, U.S. Geological Survey geophysicist, Arthur McGarr said “… long-term disposal can cause temblors as far as 15 miles away. Even closed wells could cause earthquakes, he said.” (Columbus Dispatch, 3/13/14) The previous quotes are from: “Stakes high in mystery over fracking, quakes,” by Will Drabold, The Columbus Dispatch, March 13, 2014 at:http://www.dispatch.com/content/stories/local/2014/03/13/stakes-high-in-quakes-mystery.html It is now known that they were 12 earthquakes in March, 2014, if they are all counted. The Columbus Dispatch reported on March 14, 2014, that ODNR’s spokesman Mark Bruce said, “… the additional earthquakes that Columbia monitored were incidental.” Furthermore, the Columbus Dispatch quotes ODNR spokesman Mark Bruce as writing: “ ‘Ohio’s increased monitoring network records micro-seismic events that happen around the state almost daily (and) are not felt, ‘ he wrote in an email.” (Columbus Dispatch, 3/14/14) According to the same article, Columbia University senior scientist Won Young-Kim said “… they are significant and that a connection is likely.” (Columbus Dispatch, 3/14/14). The above quotes are from: “More quakes reported near fracking well,” by Will Drabold, The Columbus Dispatch, March 14, 2014, at: http://www.dispatch.com/content/stories/local/2014/03/14/university-reporting-additional-quakes.html We believe that Bruce’s statement about “micro-seismic events” in Ohio could have major implications for scientists’ ability to gain access to crucial data that could help to clarify possible connections between Ohio wells and induced earthquakes, even those that are not felt at the surface. We say that if ODNR has data regarding other Ohio “micro-seismic events,” that are happening as frequently as Bruce is quoted as saying, this data also must be made immediately available to the public and to independent scientists since it could provide information that could help in the current investigation and also help to determine whether other fracking or injection well operations across Ohio might be correlated with micro-seismic events. How will we know what the situation really is regarding earthquakes if we do not have effective methods in place to look, or we simply do not look closely using the methods we do have in place? The community must not be deprived of the information that they need to make informed decisions about earthquakes, fracking, and related processes. Important questions need to be answered and information shared with the public, such as: Could the 3.0 magnitude earthquake that occurred in Mahoning County on March 10, 2014 near the fracking operation have damaged the well? For background on the latter question, please see: Dr. Anthony Ingraffea and Dr. Terry Engelder: Video published on YouTube, February 10, 2013, “4/4 Q & A Hydrofracking Debate in Dundee,” : Especially see starting at 8 minutes 57 seconds re earthquakes and fracking at:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NKQ7VVRYspU&list=PLo1TDxDrIRYq8HZoMEY-t2uiqPpsdjhSn According to a Los Angeles Times article by Paresh Dave, titled “Ohio earthquakes rattle up concerns about fracking” (March 12, 2014): “‘The epicenters are right where they are doing the work,’ Ray Beiersdorfer, a Youngstown State University geology professor whose wife co-founded Frackfree America, told the Los Angeles Times. ‘There had never been any earthquakes in this county until these wells starting coming in, so it seems suspect.’ “http://www.latimes.com/nation/nationnow/la-na-nn-ohio-earthquakes-fracking-20140312,0,4938210.story#ixzz2w2qNWUeV These are just some of the latest reasons why we have no confidence in ODNR’s ability to conduct a transparent, responsible, impartial, and scientific investigation of the cause of the most recent earthquakes. Therefore, if ODNR is reluctant to share information that impartial scientists need access to or fails to deploy the required seismometers in a timely fashion, we are asking for an attorney willing to help pro bono to please come forward to help us to ensure that the data and records are released in a timely fashion to independent scientists and to the public. Also of concern to Frackfree Mahoning Valley, is a shocking document, from 2012, that reportedly may be a state plan to promote fracking in state parks and forests to Ohioans. State officials are denying that the plan has been implemented. Under the “Pertinent State Policies” section, it stated: “No oil and gas drilling is permitted that would cause surface disturbance on land within state parks. Drilling may be permitted underneath inland state park land and waters.” The 2012 document named allied groups, neutral groups, and opposition groups or individuals. In addition, the “frackgate” plan, as some refer to it, still has not been adequately publicly scrutinized to see who in fact wrote it or was told to write it, who discussed it, and whether it was implemented. The states’ possible involvement in a meeting or internal discussions on taxpayer-paid time regarding this promotional plan is concerning. If further scrutiny of the “frackgate” situation proves that state or ODNR officials or employees or agencies were seeking to “marginalize” or discredit the message of valid public health concerns and to mislabel or to discredit the messengers, then we believe that ODNR cannot do their job, which is to protect the public health, safety, and well-being. ODNR’s job is not to prejudge and outright dismiss legitimate grievances made by Ohioans. Further investigation of this plan and the documents that were uncovered are necessary to uncover the truth about what really happened. [A PDF of the “frackgate” memo, as some are calling it, and other pertinent information can be found in the following article:] “Kasich’s office reportedly involved in 2012 Ohio report to promote fracking in state parks, forests,” by Bob Downing, Beacon Journal staff writer, February 17, 2014 at:http://www.ohio.com/news/kasich-s-office-reportedly-involved-in-2012-ohio-report-to-promote-fracking-in-state-parks-forests-1.467294 [and:] “Kasich aides said to mull targeting drilling foes,” by Julie Carr Smyth, Associated Press, as published on Ohio.com, February 18, 2014:http://www.ohio.com/news/kasich-aides-said-to-mull-targeting-drilling-foes-1.467446 Earthquakes, even small earthquakes, are nothing to toy with. This is not about politics. It is about science and public health. It is our lives, our health, and our quality of life in our communities and our children’s and grandchildren’s quality of life that is at stake here. We must do everything possible to ensure their well-being now and into the future. Please see the following links for more information. Contact information for Frackfree Mahoning Valley is provided below and at: http://www.frackfreemahoning.blogspot.com Links follow: Frackfree America National Coalition, based in Youngstown, Ohio: www.frackfreeamerica.org “Ohio's earthquake average since 2010 has risen,” Associated Press, March 16, 2014, as published at the WFMJ-TV website: http://www.wfmj.com/story/24988520/ohios-earthquake-average-since-2010-has-risen “Ohio Looks at Whether Fracking Led to 2 Quakes,” by Henry Fountain, New York Times, March 11, 2014 at: http://www.nytimes.com/2014/03/12/us/ohio-looks-at-whether-fracking-led-to-2-quakes.html?hpw&rref=science&_r=0 Please also see 2 news videos with the following 2012 article: “Threat of Lawsuit Over California’s Controversial Oil Drilling Hundreds of wells being fracked in California,” August 29, 2012, NBC Bay Area, by Stephen Stock, Liza Meak, and Mark Villarreal at: http://www.nbcbayarea.com/news/local/What-the-Frack-Controversial-Drilling-Happening-Here-in-California-140956263.html “Ohio earthquakes rattle up concerns about fracking,” by Paresh Dave, March 12, 2014, Los Angeles Times:http://www.latimes.com/nation/nationnow/la-na-nn-ohio-earthquakes-fracking-20140312,0,4938210.story#axzz2vrmhLfmu “Researcher Says Mahoning Earthquakes Are Likely Linked to Shale Drilling,” March 14, 2014, Ideastream report by Andy Chow: [An excerpt from the Ideastream report follows:] “The Ohio Department of Natural Resources declined an interview for this story.”http://www.ideastream.org/news/feature/researcher-says-mahoning-earthquakes-are-likely-linked-to-shale-drilling “Kasich said state officials continue reviewing earthquake date … ,” The Vindicator, March 15, 2014, by Marc Kovac at: http://www.vindy.com/news/2014/mar/15/kasich-earthquake-data-review-will-conti/ Earthquake information on the Frackfree America National Coalition, based in Youngstown, Ohio, website:http://www.frackfreeamerica.org/1/post/2014/03/fifth-earthquake-shakes-youngstown-ohio-suburb-of-lowellville-east-of-poland-oh-march-11-2014-near-7-fracking-wells-of-2-hilcorp-company.html [Excerpt from url below:] “--More Ohio Inspectors? – According to an Earthworks report: “Perhaps even mores striking, data in the table reveal that in 2010 Ohio failed to perform inspections at 91 percent of the state’s active oil and gas wells. More than 58,000 oil and gas wells had no regulatory oversight that year. The situation did not improve in 2011. That year, approximately 90% of wells did not get inspected.[5] …” The latter excerpt is from: “Ohio Oil & Gas Enforcement – Inspections,” by Earthworks. What has happened since 2011 regarding inspections? Is ODNR really able to adequately inspect even with the recent addition of more inspectors? We don’t think so. Go to http://www.earthworksaction.org/and Search at the top for keywords Ohio Inspections to find the report.” See: “Mahoning Valley group troubled by well at Meander Reservoir,” January 20, 2014,http://www.ohio.com/blogs/drilling/ohio-utica-shale-1.291290/mahoning-valley-group-troubled-by-well-at-meander-reservoir-1.460586 “Who’s at Fault?” by Mike Costarella, vindy.com, March 13, 2012: http://www.vindy.com/weblogs/shale-sheet-fracking/2012/mar/13/whos-fault/ PDF: “Investigation of Observed Seismicity In the Horn River Basin [Canada], BC Oil and Gas Commission, August, 2012 : http://www.bcogc.ca/node/8046/download For media inquiries, to contact speakers for media interviews, or for more information, please contact Frackfree Mahoning Valley at: 234-201-0402 or e-mail: frackfreemahoning@gmail.com # # #

MAN-MADE EARTHQUAKES AND FRACKING WASTE INJECTION WELLS: CONCERNED CITIZENS OF FRACKFREE AMERICA NATIONAL COALITION, BASED IN YOUNGSTOWN, OHIO, AND FRACKFREE MAHONING VALLEY, WHO EXPERIENCED THE NOW-FAMOUS 4.0 MAGNITUDE 2011 YOUNGSTOWN QUAKE LINKED TO A FRACKING WASTE INJECTION WELL, REACH OUT TO SEEK DIALOGUE AND INFORMATION SHARING WITH COMMUNITIES IN AZLE, TEXAS AND PRAGUE, OKLAHOMA, OHIO AND OTHER AREAS WHERE RESIDENTS ALSO MAY BE SUBJECT TO INDUCED SEISMICITY

Frackfree America National CoalitionNews Release www.frackfreeamerica.org _______________________________________________________For Immediate Release: January 8, 2014Contact: frackfreemahoning@gmail.com or frackfreeamerica@gmail.com _____________________________________________________Youngstown, Ohio, January 8, 2014 - The Youngstown, Ohio area is a community that experienced what residents and scientists now know was at least 109 earthquakes in a place where there had been no previously recorded quakes. The multiple Youngstown earthquakes included the now-famous 4.0 magnitude 2011 fracking waste injection well – related quake. Concerned citizens of Frackfree America National Coalition, based in Youngstown, and Frackfree Mahoning Valley have been following events in earthquake-rocked Azle, Texas and earthquake swarms in Oklahoma, where some reputable scientists suspect that the largest quake, a 5.6 magnitude in Prague, Oklahoma, is linked to injection well operations. The local citizens’ groups are now reaching out to seek dialogue, share information, and to open channels of communication with the Azle, Texas community, with Oklahoma, with Ohio or other states with neighborhoods that may be experiencing similar situations involving injection wells and man-made earthquakes. The groups are seeking to work together with others to find real, fair solutions to our common problems and concerns, here in Youngstown, Ohio, and other places with apparently similar issues, like Azle, Texas. An Azle, Texas townhall meeting took place on January 2, 2014 where over 800 residents gathered to get questions answered by Texas state officials (the Texas Railroad Commission) about the approximately 30 earthquakes they have had in about the last two months, according to multiple news reports. In an astonishing turn of events, those officials reportedly would not answer the concerned citizens’ questions. Residents of the Youngstown area have experienced other similar situations of a shocking lack of transparency on the part of their state regulatory agency, the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR). The Youngstown group says public officials need to be responsive, honest, and transparent to the public and to the media. As reported in an especially compelling WFAA.com news article and video, Melanie Williams spoke of her experience at the Azle townhall meeting. It was reported that she is a Hurricane Katrina survivor who relocated to Azle where she is experiencing the earthquakes that some suspect will be scientifically found to be linked to injection well disposal. She said she had to move from her home in Texas because of foundation problems and major leaks, according to the WFAA news report that follows: See “Angry Azle crowd disappointed by lack of answers regarding quakes,” by Teresa Woodard, WFAA, January 2, 2014 at http://www.wfaa.com/news/local/tarrant/Angry-Azle-crowd-disappointed-by-lack-of-answers-regarding-earthquakes-238543171.html Ray Beiersdorfer, Ph.D., Professor of Geology at Youngstown State University, gave information, in a December 27, 2013 news release, which is highly relevant for the ongoing earthquake/injection well issues in Ohio, Texas, Oklahoma, and other states where man-made earthquakes, also known as induced seismicity, may be taking place: “It is especially disconcerting that residents in Prague, Oklahoma experienced a 5.6 magnitude earthquake that reputable scientists think may possibly be linked to deep disposal well injection of toxic fracking waste. An earthquake of this magnitude can cause human injury and collapsed buildings – especially in areas where earthquakes are not common and infrastructure is not reinforced to safeguard against earthquake damage. We already had 109 earthquakes in Youngstown, Ohio, including the 4.0 on December 31, 2011. Human beings cannot regulate earthquakes to make sure that they stay small. This is especially true because the two faults under Youngstown have been destabilized. This is an irreversible effect of the D&L Northstar 1 injection-induced seismicity. We must stop injection wells now to help to prevent a possible 5.6 or greater magnitude quake, as well as smaller tremors,” said geologist Dr. Ray Beiersdorfer. Dealing with the risks and realities of injecting millions of gallons of toxic fracking waste into deep injection wells along with the possibility of induced seismicity is still an on-going problem in Ohio. Even though there is a history of injection well-related earthquakes in Ohio, injection wells continue to be permitted by the state agency, ODNR. For example, the Youngstown-based groups, Frackfree America and Frackfree Mahoning Valley, are currently working toward increasing public awareness nationally and locally of a Niles, Ohio area injection well that is now being built despite local community laws enacted in Weathersfield Township and Niles banning injection wells. ODNR permitted it anyway, and it is now being built. The groups believe that this injection well’s close proximity to the epicenter of the 2011 Youngstown 4.0 magnitude quake shows inadequate concern by ODNR for public health and safety. Also of great concern is an injection well being considered by the Ohio state agency to be built in Conneaut, Ohio, a city in Northeastern Ohio near the Pennsylvania border. Conneaut is only about 15 miles from Ashtabula, Ohio, the site of a series of earthquakes related to injection well disposal of Class I waste. The strongest earthquake there was a 4.3 magnitude quake in January 2001. The rational, responsible reaction by the state of Ohio would be for the ODNR to deny the permit based upon public health and safety issues, but will they? According to the Star Beacon, there is a 15 day public comment period regarding the permitting of this injection well, but again, will the ODNR listen? For details see:“Brine injection well sought for Conneaut,” by Mark Todd, Star Beacon, January 4, 2014 at: http://www.starbeacon.com/local/x1186907238/Brine-injection-well-sought-for-Conneaut/print“A Fluid-Injection-Triggered Earthquake Sequence in Ashtabula, Ohio: Implications for Seismogenesis in Stable Continental Regions,” by Leonardo Seeber, John G. Armbruster and Won-Young Kim, Bulletin of the Seismological Society of America, February, 2004, vol. 94, no. 1, 76-87 at: http://www.bssaonline.org/content/94/1/76.abstract Yet another deep injection well permit has been applied for in Brookfield, Ohio, near Youngstown. See: “Injection well planned for site in Brookfield,” by Brenda J. Linert, Tribune Chronicle, January 6, 2014 at: http://www.tribtoday.com/page/content.detail/id/597720/Injection-well-planned-for-site-in-Brookfield.html?nav=5021 See information about the Ashtabula and Youngstown earthquakes: “Ohio earthquake was not a natural event, expert says,” by Kim Palmer, Reuters, January 3, 2012 at: http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/01/04/us-earthquake-ohio-idUSTRE80302220120104 “Our position is that the injection wells must stop now as a measure to protect the public’s health, safety, and well-being. Millions upon millions of gallons of toxic fracking waste are continually being produced. The waste has to go somewhere. Where is it all going to go? There is no good, safe solution for this problem at this time. For the sake of protecting the public interest, the enormous amount of toxic fracking waste needs to stop being produced in the first place. There is no good place to put it,” said geologist Susie Beiersdorfer of Youngstown, Ohio.Frackfree America and Frackfree Mahoning Valley believe that science and common sense must prevail over politics and greed when it comes to toxic fracking waste injection wells, risks of drinking water contamination, and man-made earthquakes. The best interest of the public’s health, safety, and well-being must come first. A solution must be implemented quickly to protect the public. The groups say that in addition to safety, public health, private property, property value, and general well-being issues, proper democratic processes must be followed relevant to the gas and oil industry, which should immediately be required to follow the rule of law without special exemptions or special treatment. Local control and self-governance must be upheld. (See the Community Bill of Rights Committee, December 27, 2013 news release below for more details about earthquakes, injection wells, and local control.) The groups believe that it is not fair for officials to imply that since studies are being done, injection well operations should continue despite the concerns and real damage taking place now – including serious adverse effects to the quality of life of residents experiencing the earthquakes. Citizens are concerned, and rightly so, that the earthquakes could get bigger or more frequent. Even the effects of smaller, repeated earthquakes on infrastructure, walls, house foundations, bridges, or dams need to be considered.

Since some officials, who are supposed to protect the public health, safety, and general public interest, seem to be ducking out the back door and apparently refusing to speak with the media, it is important for communities to legally protect their own families and neighborhoods. The Texas official’s refusal to speak with media after the Azle townhall meeting was yet another shocking example of lack of transparency by state officials who are supposed to be accountable to the public.

Similar ignoring or minimizing the public’s legitimate concerns has also happened in other states, including Ohio. State officials are accountable to the public. The public pays their salaries. They should speak with the public or media in real time when the media request interviews.

Concerned citizens of Frackfree America and Frackfree Mahoning Valley are reaching out with information, experts, and human compassion and empathy for what residents in earthquake swarm areas must be going through right now. It sounds strikingly similar to what happened in Youngstown in 2011. So far, the public is left to pay for any earthquake damage, and injection wells continue to be permitted by the state.

Frackfree America and Frackfree Mahoning Valley say it is time for clear-thinking adults to stand together in unity and to legally intervene to stop this irrational quest for corporate profits while some ignore the real adverse effects of fracking and related processes and infrastructure, including injection well-related seismicity, and risks of air, soil, and water pollution. Those of us from different states can learn from each other and share scientific and other valid information among ourselves. The people need to be heard. We are not expendable. No one is expendable.

For more information, please see the following press release: "Fracking, Earthquakes, Water, and Local Government Control: Youngstown, Ohio and Niles, Ohio Area Concerned Citizens Seek to Affirm Local Self-Governance Rights to Protect Their Public Health, Safety, General Welfare, Property Values, and Private Property Rights" (12/27/13) that provides information about earthquakes and injection wells, as well as other topics:http://bit.ly/1bSbBUb or

The following video is a recording of a large public informational meeting about the earthquakes and injection well in Youngstown, Ohio, that took place in January, 2012, at the Covelli Centre after the Youngstown earthquakes. Especially see the discussion between the state geologist and a Youngstown City Councilman about the inability to predict where a fault lies until “activities” start - “after the fact,” at minute 1:21:55: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OMGmmCQIKPA&feature=player_embedded

For Media inquiries or for more information, please call or e-mail Frackfree America National Coalition at: 234-201-8007 or frackfreeamerica@gmail.com or Frackfree Mahoning Valley at: 234-201-0402 or e-mail: frackfreemahoning@gmail.com

Fracking, Earthquakes, Water, and Local Government Control: Youngstown, Ohio and Niles, Ohio Area Concerned Citizens Seek to Affirm Local Self-Governance Rights to Protect Their Public Health, Safety, General Welfare, Property Values, and Private Property Rights

For Immediate Release:December 27, 2013 Community Bill of Rights CommitteeNews ReleaseYoungstown, Ohio, December 27, 2013 – The Youngstown, Ohio Community Bill of Rights Committee said they would be back, and they already are. Members of the committee and other local supporters of the Youngstown Community Bill of Rights Charter Amendment, which opposes fracking and upholds citizens’ fundamental right to local self governance and control, are going door to door in Youngstown with petitions seeking voter signatures to place a Community Bill of Rights Charter Amendment question on the Youngstown ballot in May, 2014. They have launched a new website at: http://www.protectyoungstown.org/ The group says the public is warmly welcoming them. The committee is very pleased that Niles, Ohio concerned citizens are also now collecting signatures for their similar petition effort that seeks to place a ballot question on the Niles ballot in May, 2014. Niles concerned citizens launched a new website describing their effort to uphold their local rights and to ban fracking within Niles city limits at:www.keepnilessafe.org According to Susie Beiersdorfer, geologist and Youngstown Community Bill of Rights (CBR) Committee member, “We now have a powerful base of almost 5000 Youngstown voters that could easily sway an election or ballot question. We will win this time because the truth resonates. We needed only 6 percent more YES votes to win on the ballot question in Youngstown on November, 2013. The gap is closing in our favor, and we soundly gained ground in November. In the November, 2013 election, the opposition spent an exorbitant amount of money compared to what we spent. In addition to the money, they also spent countless hours to oppose us, and we still gained ground. We are extremely happy about that. It shows the strength and truth of our position.” The Youngstown grassroots, concerned citizens group says that despite massive spending by industry and pro-fracking allies to try to defeat them, the Community Bill of Rights Charter Amendment ballot question picked up 1830 more YES votes in their favor since the May 2013 election (May: 2912 YES votes; November: 4742 YES votes) and narrowed the margin from 13.71% to only 9.72 %. More Youngstown voters supported the proposed Community Bill of Rights Charter Amendment in November than in May 2013. “Our analysis of the election results is that as Youngstown voters are becoming more fully informed about fracking and local control issues, voters are turning against fracking, and are demanding local control over how they want their community to be – which is the citizens’ fundamental right. We say the closing gap, which was 13.71 % in the May 2013 election and now is only 9.72%, is evidence of this growing sentiment,” said Lynn Anderson, a Youngstown Community Bill of Rights (CBR) Committee member. Lynn Anderson also emphasizes that the margin is closing in the CBR committee's favor and that the committee soundly gained ground in November even though the CBR group spent only about half as much money as they did in their CBR May, 2013 campaign. Lynn Anderson also says, "Youngstown citizens can visit the Mahoning County Board of Elections campaign finance website at http://www.voterfind.tzo.org/mahoningoh/webcfs/cfsearch.aspx. Type in Plumbers and add the final tally from the two 30-B-2 forms (October and December 2013) and see that the opposition spent over $81,000 against this ballot initiative. It is disgraceful that the opposition hired out of state ad agencies to formulate direct mail to confuse the issue in the public’s mind.” The Youngstown Community Bill of Rights Committee says elections cannot be bought in America – even if the laws allow an unequal financial playing field. The group believes that, in general, it is un-American and immoral for outsiders to try to influence a local ballot question result by injecting massive amounts of advertising or lobbying money that greatly outspends the grassroots community. The public knows that is unfair. They see right through it. The CBR group says that they are raising awareness of citizens’ and their official representatives’ local fundamental right and duty to protect the public health, safety, and general welfare of their communities. It is the 2004 Ohio state law, H.B. 278, that claims it can take away citizens’ local rights, that is unconstitutional. That state law is a bad law. The Community Bill of Rights Charter Amendment upholds American laws and values, and all citizens’ unalienable, natural, fundamental rights. The group says that nearly every day – either in Ohio or in other states - another serious fracking related accident, evacuation, civil rights or human rights violation, or other event occurs that validates to the public that what the group has been saying is the truth. For example, on December 19, 2013, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court issued an enormously significant court decision ruling that major parts of Pennsylvania’s shale drilling-related law, Act 13, were unconstitutional. The group believes that Act 13 is similar to the Ohio state drilling-related law, H.B. 278, which claims it can deprive local communities of certain fundamental rights. The group believes that the outcome favoring local control in the Pennsylvania Act 13 case is a preview of what is to come to Ohio’s similar law that erroneously says it can trump citizens’ civil, fundamental, and human rights to determine how they want their community to be and to protect their community’s health, safety, and welfare. That Ohio law, they feel, will go the same way as the one in Pennsylvania – it will be ruled unconstitutional. Please see “Pennsylvania Supreme Court declares portions of shale-drilling law unconstitutional,” a Pittsburgh Post-Gazette article by Don Hopey, December 20, 2013, at: http://www.post-gazette.com/local/2013/12/19/Pennsylvania-Supreme-Court-declares-portions-of-shale-drilling-law-unconstitutional/stories/201312190254 The group bases their information upon valid scientific reports, facts, and other accurate documentation. They say that politics, industry lobbying, and bureaucratic incompetence cannot be put above good science and the well-being of the community. The serious risks and adverse outcomes related to fracking and related processes are real. The public health, safety, and well-being must come first. The group says that to put profits over people is immoral and harmful to communities. Especially alarming to the Community Bill of Rights Committee and its supporters is that, locally or nationwide, heavy industrial fracking-related operations or infrastructure continue to be permitted near homes, children’s schools, farms, parks, forests, and cemeteries – in neighborhoods and residential areas. Private property issues, such as forced pooling, occur. Real estate home property values can decrease as heavy fracking-related industrial operations are permitted near homes or residential areas. The group is concerned about the plight and adverse health claims of those residents living near a heavy industrial fracking operation permitted by the state of Ohio in nearby Weathersfield Township. Please see the following astonishing video that shows gas flaring and concerns of residents living near the fracking operation: “Westwood Lake Nightmare” (published June 23, 2013) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8UEfXg9km5Q The CBR Committee and supporters say that we, as a community, can learn a lot from other states’ experiences with fracking and related issues, including recent multiple earthquakes in Oklahoma and Texas. According to a KXAN – TV news report, North Texas had approximately twenty earthquakes in one month. Please see KXAN news report titled, “20th earthquake in month reported in North Texas Latest happened about 20 miles NW of Fort Worth,” December 3, 2013, (includes new video and article) at: http://www.kxan.com/news/20th-earthquake-in-month-reported-in-north-texas Some scientists feel that the latter earthquakes, and others, may be associated with deep fracking waste injection wells, like the one that caused the now-famous 4.0 magnitude earthquake in Youngstown, Ohio on December 31, 2011. Scientists have linked Youngstown’s earthquakes to the D&L Northstar 1 injection well. Group members say that the bottom line is that unconventional fracking continually creates millions of gallons of toxic fracking waste that has to go somewhere. There is no good, safe solution to this problem. Where will it all go? Unfortunately, much of the waste currently goes to Ohio. Ohio is not a toxic fracking waste dumping ground. Ohioans are not expendable. No one anywhere is expendable. In Ohio, an increasing number of toxic fracking waste injection wells are being permitted, built, or operated, such as the one in Weathersfield Township, Ohio, where local officials wisely oppose them. See “City of Niles sides with Weathersfield, opposes brine injection well plans,” WFMJ.com, updated August 31, 2012 at: http://www.wfmj.com/story/19351516/niles-sides-weathersfield-opposes-brine-injection-well-plans Even though local officials and some residents opposed the injection wells, the state of Ohio permitted one in their community anyway. An injection well is now being built in Weathersfield Township.

The increasing number of permits issued by the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) for yet more injection wells is despite the fact that Youngstown has already had at least 109 earthquakes, including the 4.0 magnitude earthquake on December 31, 2011 that scientists acknowledge was linked to the Youngstown D&L Northstar 1 injection well. Furthermore, the group says, earthquakes cannot be regulated. It is reckless and irresponsible for anyone to pretend that earthquakes that could result from injection of fracking waste into deep injection wells can be regulated or kept small in magnitude. Ohio is not the only state where local officials and residents have serious concerns and legitimate grievances about toxic fracking waste injection wells. According to the Mayor of Azle, Texas, speaking of the almost 20 earthquakes in one month, as reported in Climate Progress, December 6, 2013: “’If it is determined that quakes are caused by the disposal wells, then the disposal wells need to stop. It’s that simple,’ the city of Azle’s Mayor Alan Brundrett said." The latter quote and embedded link is from an article by Katie Valentine titled, “Researchers Link Earthquakes in Texas To Fracking Process,” at: http://thinkprogress.org/climate/2013/12/06/3029951/texas-fracking-earthquakes/“It is especially disconcerting that residents in Prague, Oklahoma experienced a 5.6 magnitude earthquake that reputable scientists think may possibly be linked to deep disposal well injection of toxic fracking waste. An earthquake of this magnitude can cause human injury and collapsed buildings – especially in areas where earthquakes are not common and infrastructure is not reinforced to safeguard against earthquake damage. We already had 109 earthquakes in Youngstown, Ohio, including the 4.0 on December 31, 2011. Human beings cannot regulate earthquakes to make sure that they stay small. This is especially true because the two faults under Youngstown have been destabilized. This is an irreversible effect of the D&L Northstar 1 injection-induced seismicity. We must stop injection wells now to help to prevent a possible 5.6 or greater magnitude quake, as well as smaller tremors,” said Dr. Ray Beiersdorfer, Professor of Geology at Youngstown State University. Group members say that continuing on the path we are on regarding earthquakes and injection wells makes no common sense. The potential impact of frequent earthquakes, even smaller, under 3.0 magnitude quakes possibly linked to injection wells in any state, should not be minimized. This increased number of earthquakes is not normal. We, as a society, should not and cannot become desensitized to this situation. The views of some people, whose incomes depend upon giving false reassurances to the public about the possible implications of the earthquakes, should be held to intense scrutiny, increased scientific inquiry, and open, public transparency. More media coverage would go a long way in raising general public awareness of these issues and would be a real community service. It’s time for clear-thinking adults to intervene to legally stop this irrational quest by industry and a few others for a quick way to make money, while the majority of society suffers the costs. Those costs include financial, health- related, and costs to our democratic process. The public health, well-being, safety, drinking water, air, and fundamental rights must be the first consideration. It has become extremely obvious that something needs to be done now about the increase in injection well-linked earthquakes that, alarmingly, are becoming more and more commonplace, according to reputable scientists and researchers. In fact, two United States Representatives, Representative Peter DeFazio and Representative Henry Waxman, are wisely calling for hearings on the man-made earthquakes. Their efforts to raise national awareness of the earthquake/injection well problem should be commended and supported locally and nationwide. According to The Oklahoman, Representative Peter DeFazio and Representative Henry Waxman said: “… the two panels should hold a joint hearing to study the increase of seismic activity in areas that had previously been inactive and ‘the potential regulatory gaps in current law that put people and property at risk from man-made earthquakes.’” The latter quote is from: “Democrats want hearing on whether earthquakes are linked to fracking: Citing research on Oklahoma earthquakes, two Democrats call on Republican committee leaders to look into unusual seismic activity,” by Chris Casteel, December 19, 2013, The Oklahoman: http://newsok.com/democrats-want-hearing-on-whether-earthquakes-are-linked-to-fracking/article/3915820 For an increasing number of reasons, including a shocking lack of public transparency on the part of ODNR, many members of the public have lost confidence in the ability of the state bureaucracy, the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR), to competently protect the public health, safety, general well-being and private property rights of Ohioans. One reason for the loss of public confidence in ODNR is that football-field sized, open, toxic fracking waste centralized impoundment pits, or “lagoons,” which were reportedly banned in Ohio, have recently been permitted and are scheduled to make their appearance in Ohio by January 1, 2014. See “Ohio will soon authorize fracking wastewater pools Football field-sized ponds to recycle waste,” by Jamison Cocklin, The Vindicator, October 6, 2013, at: http://www.vindy.com/news/2013/oct/06/oil-and-gas-drilling-ohio-set-to-ok-pits/ These pits are still going forward despite apparent problems with impoundments in other states. To Frackfree Mahoning Valley’s knowledge, no one at ODNR fully adequately notified nor informed the general public of this plan – although they are supposed to be accountable to the public. Nevertheless, plans for the football-sized fracking waste “lagoons” are still in place to proceed. This is unacceptable. The public has a right to be fully informed beforehand – not after the fact - and to have a legal say about issues that can directly impact or involve risks to their public health, safety, or general well-being. See the Frackfree Mahoning Valley press release dated October 14, 2013, at: http://frackfreemahoning.blogspot.com/2013/10/frackfree-mahoning-valley-calls-for.html The group stresses that the oil and gas industry is not the only business in this area. The oil and gas industry does not deserve special treatment or law exemptions over all other businesses or human beings. We must be aware of possible adverse economic effects of heavy industrialization via fracking upon property values, upon the $43 billion per year Ohio tourist industry, and also upon agriculture, farming, and real estate businesses. We must remain open to healthy family living in our communities, freedom to quiet enjoyment of private property rights, and healthy, ethical, and responsible businesses. (According to a Vindicator AP article, tourism is the fourth-largest industry in Ohio “supporting 443,000 jobs” and $43 billion annually: See “Ohio House panel discusses attracting tourists,” September 10, 2013), AP: http://www.vindy.com/news/2013/sep/10/ohio-house-panel-discusses-attracting-tourists/?nw For media inquiries or more information, or to volunteer to help take petitions door to door to get voter signatures in Youngstown or Niles, please contact the petition committees via Frackfree Mahoning Valley at: 234-201-0402 or e-mail: frackfreemahoning@gmail.comFor more information please see the following links: People living near heavy industrial fracking operations talk about their experience: “Westwood Lake Nightmare” (published June 23, 2013); Trumbull County, Ohio. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8UEfXg9km5Q “Fracking hell: what it’s really like to live next to a shale gas well,” by Suzanne Goldenberg, The Guardian , article and video, December 13, 2013: http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2013/dec/14/fracking-hell-live-next-shale-gas-well-texas-usMore regarding Westwood Lake Park and fracking, etc. “Faith motivates Catholics to speak out on gas, oil drilling practices,” by Dennis Sadowski, Catholic News Service, posted December 12, 2013, Catholic Courier at: http://www.catholiccourier.com/in-depth/previous-topics/debate-over-fracking/faith-motivates-catholics-to-speak-out-on-gas-oil-drilling-practices/Earthquakes and fracking waste injection wells: (The Two - Year Anniversary of the Youngstown, Ohio Injection Well 4.0 magnitude Earthquake is December 31, 2013.) “Experts Eye Oil and Gas Industry as Quakes Shake Oklahoma,” by Henry Fountain, The New York Times, December 12, 2013, [Youngstown, Ohio is in a caption in the video that goes along with this article.]: http://www.nytimes.com/2013/12/13/science/earth/as-quakes-shake-oklahoma-scientists-eye-oil-and-gas-industry.html?pagewanted=all “Induced seismicity associated with fluid injection into a deep well in Youngstown, Ohio,” by Won-Young Kim, Journal of Geophysical Research: Solid Earth, Volume 118, Issue 7, July 2013, Wiley Online Library: http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/jgrb.50247/abstract[Athens, Ohio] “After earthquake, city council sides with county on halting use of injection wells,” December 3, 2013, by Cassie Kelly, The Post, at: http://thepost.ohiou.edu/content/after-earthquake-city-council-sides-county-halting-use-injection-wells “Distant Earthquakes Trigger Tremors at U.S. Waste-Injection Sites, Says Study,” ScienceDaily, July 11, 2013: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/07/130711142401.htm “Oil Addiction, Not Fracking, Caused the 2011 Oklahoma Earthquakes,” by David Biello, March 27, 2013, Scientific American Blogs, [Youngstown 4.0 mag. earthquake mentioned in video with article] http://blogs.scientificamerican.com/observations/2013/03/27/oil-addiction-not-fracking-caused-the-2011-oklahoma-earthquakes/ “…’There’s something important about getting unexpectedly large earthquakes out of small systems that we have discovered here,’ he said. The observations mean that ‘the risk of humans inducing large earthquakes from even small injection activities is probably higher’ than previously thought, he said.” [Excerpt from:] “Wastewater Injection Spurred Biggest Earthquake Yet, Says Study March 26, 2013 2011 Oklahoma Temblor Came Amid Increased Manmade Seismicity,” Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory, Columbia University, Earth Institute at: http://www.ldeo.columbia.edu/news-events/wastewater-injection-spurred-biggest-earthquake-yet-says-study “In Oklahoma, water, fracking – and a swarm of quakes,” by Carey Gillam, November 19, 2013, Reuters at: http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/11/19/us-usa-earthquakes-fracking-oklahoma-idUSBRE9AI12W20131119 “Mineral Wells quake follows another temblor near Azle,” by Barry Shlachter, December 9, 2013, Star-Telegram; [includes list of some area earthquakes:] http://www.star-telegram.com/2013/12/08/5402450/ice-storm-cant-put-the-freeze.html “Residents in Azle told CBS 11 News that they are concerned about the rising number of earthquakes rocking the area.” [Excerpt from:] “Earthquake Strikes North Texas Saturday Night,” CBSDFW.com, December 15, 2013, http://dfw.cbslocal.com/2013/12/15/earthquake-strikes-north-texas-saturday-night/?utm_source=web&utm_medium=twitter “Officials with the Ohio Department of Natural Resources would not go on camera for this report, but they responded to questions about the issue.” [Excerpt from:] “Ohio dumping ground for fracking waste?” November 8, 2013, WKBN-TV 27 First News: http://www.wkbn.com/news/local/ohio-dumping-ground-for-fracking-waste “Since oil and gas drillers are exempt from key provisions of federal hazardous waste law, they are also exempt from the earthquake prevention rules when they inject wastewater from hydraulic fracturing.” [Excerpt from:] “Earthquakes: Drilling waste wells exempt from earthquake testing rules,” by Mike Soraghan, E & E Publishing, LLC., March 22, 2012: http://www.eenews.net/stories/1059961795 “A commission spokeswoman said inspectors visited one of the disposal wells in the area and found it in compliance with agency rules. But agency rules don't address earthquakes.” [Excerpt from:] “Earthquakes: Texas agency doubtful as it investigates link to drilling-waste injection,” by Mike Soraghan, E & E Publishing, LLC., December 18, 2013: http://www.eenews.net/stories/1059992009 “Yet another earthquake, the 30th since November 1, rattles Azle Monday morning,” by Robert Wilonsky, The Scoop Blog, Dallasnews, December 23, 2013: http://thescoopblog.dallasnews.com/2013/12/yet-another-quake-the-30th-since-nov-1-rattles-azle-monday-morning.html/ “Along with the cracks, the nail heads appear to be popping out of the sheet rock, and Kim believes the quakes feel stronger upstairs, hence the cracks in the walls.” [Excerpt from:] “More earthquakes hit near Azle,” updated December 23, 2013, by James Rose, KDFW Fox 4, [Includes news video and article]: http://www.myfoxdfw.com/story/24285588/33-earthquake-hits-azle-again “Continued Shaking Has Texans Considering Earthquake Insurance,” December 23, 2013, by Bud Gillett, CBS 11 News, http://dfw.cbslocal.com/2013/12/23/continued-shaking-has-texans-considering-earthquake-insurance/#.UrnAR4zb7kI.twitter “Scientific American’s Top 10 Science Stories of 2013,” by The Editors, December 19, 2013, Scientific American [see Number 7: “Confirmed: Fracking and Related Operations Cause Earthquakes,”] http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=top-10-science-stories-2013&page=5 “Fracking firm Cuadrilla pulls out of Lancashire ‘quake’ site,” BBC News Lancashire, December 17, 2013: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-lancashire-25415187See election results here: Mahoning County Board of Elections: http://vote.mahoningcountyoh.gov/ November, 2013 election results: http://vote.mahoningcountyoh.gov/election-information-results/local-election-results/ See May 7 election results here: http://vote.mahoningcountyoh.gov/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/13p-official.pdfAdditional Important Information: [Video with English subtitles:] “Pope Francis unmissable interview by film director Fernando E. Solanas, Cinesur, SA, YouTube, “Published on Dec 13, 2013 Multi award winning film director and argentinian senator Fernando E. Solanas made this amazing interview where Pope Francis talks about environment contamination unemployment and culture. Please help us. Sign in www.argentinasinfracking.org “ at:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WAX4mrhw0zwPope Francis interview video In Spanish without subtitles, “Imperdible entrevista al Papa Francisco por Pino Solanas,” Cinesur SA, “published on November 27, 2013, is at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k1DyLbmOBSU “Debate over fracking,” “…series of stories from Catholic News Service …” Catholic Courier, posted December 11, 2013, Updated: December 18, 2013 at: http://www.catholiccourier.com/in-depth/previous-topics/debate-over-fracking/ “Straight talk – Pennsylvanians speak out to Governor Corbett about fra …” Delaware Riverkeeper Network: YoTube video, January 9, 2013: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7VhDXNEEVCs [The Texas Tribune] “Fort Worth Sues Driller, Citing Millions in Lost Royalties,” by Jim Malewitz, published December 21, 2013, The New York Timeshttp://www.nytimes.com/2013/12/22/us/fort-worth-sues-driller-citing-millions-in-lost-royalties.html?smid=fb-share&_r=3&For media inquiries or more information, or to volunteer to help the local efforts, please contact the group via Frackfree Mahoning Valley at: 234-201-0402 or e-mail: frackfreemahoning@gmail.com # # #